At 3:40 a.m. on February 17, Yusuki Onishi allegedly used a scooter to come up behind a woman in her 30s as she commuted home on a road in the Kabukicho entertainment area of Shinjuku Ward and grab her purse containing 70,000 yen.
Since October of last year, Onishi, a resident of Yokohama, is believed to have committed similar crimes in 57 cases in Kabukicho and other entertainment areas, including Shibuya. Police said the amount stolen by the suspect totals 5.2 million yen.
Onishi, who has been charged with theft, has reportedly denied the allegations.
The suspect was identified after police traced the scooter used in the crimes to an acquaintance of Onishi.
